CVE-2016-0332 in Security Identity Manager
Summary
by MITRE
IBM Security Identity Manager (ISIM) Virtual Appliance 7.0.0.0 through 7.0.1.0 before 7.0.1-ISS-SIM-FP0001 do not properly restrict failed login attempts, which makes it easier for remote attackers to obtain access via a brute-force approach. IBM X-Force ID: 111695.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/30/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2016-0332 affects IBM Security Identity Manager Virtual Appliance versions 7.0.0.0 through 7.0.1.0 before the 7.0.1-ISS-SIM-FP0001 patch release. This security flaw represents a critical weakness in the authentication mechanism of the ISIM appliance, specifically in how it handles failed login attempts. The vulnerability allows attackers to perform brute-force attacks against the system's authentication interface without effective rate limiting or account lockout mechanisms. This issue directly impacts the appliance's ability to protect against unauthorized access attempts, creating a significant security risk for organizations relying on this identity management solution.
The technical flaw stems from the absence of proper account lockout policies and failed authentication attempt restrictions within the ISIM Virtual Appliance implementation. When users attempt to authenticate with invalid credentials, the system should implement mechanisms to prevent rapid successive login attempts that characterize brute-force attacks. Without these controls, attackers can systematically try numerous username and password combinations without triggering protective measures that would normally delay or block further attempts. This weakness aligns with CWE-307, which describes inadequate account lockout mechanisms that fail to prevent automated authentication attacks. The vulnerability creates a pathway for attackers to exploit the authentication system through repetitive login attempts that would otherwise be mitigated by proper security controls.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple unauthorized access attempts, as it can enable attackers to compromise entire identity management systems. Organizations using the affected ISIM appliance versions face increased risk of credential stuffing attacks, where attackers leverage previously compromised credentials from other sources to gain access to the identity management infrastructure. The vulnerability particularly affects environments where the ISIM appliance serves as a central authentication point for enterprise systems, as successful exploitation could lead to broader access to network resources and sensitive data. This weakness undermines the fundamental security posture of the identity management system, potentially allowing attackers to escalate privileges and move laterally within the network. According to ATT&CK framework, this vulnerability maps to technique T1110.001 for Brute Force: Password Guessing, which is a common initial access method used by adversaries.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2016-0332 should prioritize immediate application of the vendor-provided patch 7.0.1-ISS-SIM-FP0001, which addresses the failed login attempt restriction issue. Organizations should also implement additional protective measures including network-level rate limiting, firewall rules to restrict access to authentication endpoints, and monitoring of failed login attempts for suspicious patterns. Security teams should establish automated alerting for unusual authentication behavior and consider implementing multi-factor authentication to add additional layers of protection. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper authentication security controls and highlights the need for regular security assessments of identity management systems. Organizations should also review their overall authentication policies and ensure that account lockout mechanisms are properly configured across all systems to prevent similar vulnerabilities from being exploited.